Emergency tibe chains



A. E. HUMBOLDT FLEXIBLE TOOL FOR THE APPLICATION `lan. 25, '19491.

Filed Feb. 14, 1947 OF EMERGENCY TIRE CHAINS the plate 34 as shown in full lines in the drawing, thereby causing the abutments formed by the fold 32 andby the bend 3S to cooperate with the slot 35 to retain the band 3E! and plate 34 in assembled condition and longitudinally alined. With the band Slithus secured to the strap 22, the band 36 may be reversely withdrawn through the slot 24 as hereinabove described, thereby guiding'and advancing the chain strap 22 about the tire 2i and through the slot 24'untl the chain sections 2l extend transversely across the tire tread. Thereafter, the hooked or abutting ends of the band 30 and plate 34 may be disengaged in an obvious manner by reversely rotating thev same relative to each other to the position indicated by doteandf-idash lines and longitudinally withdrawing theband 30 from the slot 35; andthe strap 22 may finally be buckled inthe usual manner to effect attachment of the chains to the wheel and tire.

From the foregoing detailed description,v itis apparent that my present invention provides an improved portable emergency tire chain applying device which is simple, compact and durable in construction, and which is moreover highly eicient and practical in use. The improved devices may be readily produced in large quantities of spring steelk or the like by stamping, and the end attaching plates I4 or 34 may be quickly and easily easily secured to the usual chain straps 22 by rivets 20 or the like, and these end plates do not interfere with the buckling operation. The improved fastening means for the band I0 or 3D and strap 22 is extremely simple and results in automatic longitudinal alinement of the Vresilient band yand chain strap, and the devices may be utilized with modern as well as older automobiles Y without interference Wherever a sufficient rim opening is provided to receive the usual strap 22.Y

WithV the improved chain applicator, it isV unnecessary for the operator to jack up the automobile or to reach under the fender or mudguard to apply emergency chains, and consequently much physical eiort as Well as wear and tear on hands and clothes is obviated. Tire chain appiicaters manufactured in accordance with the pres ent invention have proven highly successful in actual use, and can be produced at lov,r cost.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit this invention to the exact details of construction or to the'precise mode of use herein shown and described, for various mcdications Within the scope of the appended claim may occur to persons skilled in the art to which this invention pertains.

I claim: 1

A tool for facilitating the application of emergency tire chains having end straps with engagement means complemente. on the tool, said tool comprising, eiongated relatively flexible and normally circular band 'hav- Y ing one end thereof cut diagonally and bent twice upon itself to form an end hook having a trans-- verse Wedge disposed therein.

ARTHUR E. HUMBOLDT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 'die of this patent:

Patented Jan. 25, 1949 'iJNITED yST'IglzS t PATENT- OFFICE I FLEXIBLE TOOL FOR THE APPLICATIONOF EMERGENCY TIRE CHAINS I Arthur E. Humboldt, Milwaukee, Wis. vApplication February 14, 1947, ySerial No. 728,692

1 claim. (c1. 's1-15.8)

1 My presentinvention relates generally to improvements in theart of applying anti-skid devices or chains to automobile wheels, and relates more particularly to improvements in thecon struction and operation of a tool for facilitating the application of emergency tire chains.

A. primary object. of the invention is `to pro- I permit encirclement andattachment thereof to the tire and rim of the` automobile Wheel with the chain portion extending transversely across the tire tread. Thisr type of emergency crosschain is installed by rst passing the relatively flexible fabric strap horizontally or inwardly across the other, periphery of thetire, then vertically along the'inner side wall of the tire, and thereafter through the opening provided in the wheel or between spokes thereof so as to permitv the free end of the strap to be buckled in an obvious mfanner with the chain retainedin posi' tion on the tire vand extending transversely of the tread thereof.

Since the fenders ofthe modern automobiles are designed to give a streamlined effect' and consequently terminate close to the tire 'periphery, it is extremely difcult to apply emergency' tire chains in the manner hereinabove described'without soiling both hands and clothes during the operation; and many devices have consequently been heretoforeA proposed for aiding in applying such chains. The most common and practical prior chain applying devices consist generally of relatively narrow' and flexible substantially circular or semi-circular bod-ies adapted to be secured in diverse manner to the end of the chain strap so as to serve asa guide during passage of the strapabout the tire and through the Wheel spokes or openings, the guiding device being detachable uponk completionfof the' operation to enable buckling .of the'strap in the usual manner. While some of theseprior devices' have proven somewhat successful,- the more recent automobiles kare provided with disk wheels having narroWspaced-apart slots adjacent the tire rim, and vthese slots are of such size. as tobarely receive; the 1 chain strap.v Consequently, the means heretofore proposed for attaching-the eXible circular guiding devices to the chain strap have proven too bulky, particularly intliickness, to permit .passage through the diskslots, and these devices are therefore inoperable with recent model automobiles. Furthermore, many of the .fastening means heretofore employed with the chain applying devices have been quite complicated, flimsy and difficult to apply and utilize under al1 conditions and/or to manufacture Tand sell at moderate cost.

It is therefore a more specific object of the present invention tolprovide an improved tire chain applying device which obviates the disadvantages attendant .prior art devices, and which may be readily and effectively universally utilized.

Another specific object of this invention is to provide an improvedv tire chainapplicator which may be quickly and easily 'detachably secured in provide an emergency chain applying device with an improvedr .means for detachably securing the same to the usual chain strap in la highly efficient manner and wherein there is no interference during passage of the Vdevice through the slot or other opening in the automobile wheel. y

Still another specific object of the invention is to yprovide lan improved tire chain applicator comprising an elongated relatively flexible and normally circular handhaving an end portion bent upon itself to forman end abutment cooperable With means'carred by the free end of the tirev chain strap to secure the band to the strap in longitudinal alinement therewith.

-An additional specic object of the present invention is to provide'anY improved tire chain applying device which consists of a minimum numl ber of simple parts which' may be readily manufactured in large quantities and at low cost of available materials for convenient andl quick application to standardl emergency chains without special equipment. l

A further specific vobject of my present invention .is to provide an improved portable emergency chain applicator which is compact and light weight, and' ywhich may be quickly and easily attached to'v `or detached fromthe fabric chain strap underdiverse conditions by a novice; f

These and other specific objects and advantages of my improvement will be apparent from the following detailed description. 

